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Jun 2019 · 376
Life as a cat
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
Life as a cat? That's where it's at.
The cat is so beloved, the humans offer a beach of crystals to use as a toilet each week.
We may be fancy, but don't fall for those ridiculous stories. we don't wear hats or speak.
As a cat, you get to sleep all day. Then, when you wake up, the humans are ready to play.
If they get annoying, just bat them with your paw and they'll usually go away.
If an intruder makes its presence known, scratch and *** on the walls to let them know "you're in my space. This is my home and mine alone."
Well, I think that's all I have to say. Remember, show your humans love, and you'll be treated like a god for the rest of your days.
Jun 2019 · 512
You make me ready for more
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
I need to get something off my chest.
When it comes to friends, there's no second best.
And when it comes to people I love,
every time I look at you i forget about the rest.
It's amazing how your words give me so much hope.
Like a street lamp guiding me home in the night.
And yet when I finally find the words I want to say,
I look at you and it's like I'm being hit with kryptonite.
I don't know what the future has in store, but as long as you're in my life, you make me ready for more.
Jun 2019 · 260
Real talk
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
We talk about change whether it's good or bad
We talk about our dreams and things we wish we had.
We talk about our days.
We talk about our wives.
We talk about everything we hate in our lives.
We talk about things that never happened in bed, and yet for all the things we say, we can never seem to talk about what's really going on in our heads
Jun 2019 · 526
panther in the night
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
I'm standing on the edge
Looking out past the shore
Hoping if I follow the horizon
I'll find something more.
Something worth fighting for.
All I want to do is leave behind the hurt and the hate
But deep down, I know it will follow me wherever I go like a panther in the night lying in wait
Jun 2019 · 532
Don't walk away angry
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
Today, I found you crying on the stairs.
I asked if you were okay.
You asked me why I cared.
So I sat down beside you.
I said "I know you didn't ask for one, but you look like you could use a friend."
I asked again "what's wrong? Are you okay?"
You said "I'm fine. Just go away!"
I looked in your eyes and only saw pain and fear. So I said "we don't have to talk. But I'm not going anywhere."
You groaned and put your head in your knees.
Finally, you looked up and said "want to know what happened? Fine!
I found out my boyfriend cheated on me. When I confronted him, he said he never loved me and I needed to leave. Is that what you want to hear?!"
"No. I'm sorry that happened. Do you have any friends or family near?"
"No. And I don't have any money either."
"Alright. Before you say it,
I know you have no reason to trust me. But if you want, you can stay with me."
"Why are you being so nice to me? Why do you care?"
"Years ago, I had a friend who had gone through
a traumatic experience
and I wanted to help her.
I thought she could heal
if she talked to me about it.
I pushed her too hard
And she yelled at me.
So I yelled back.
I was angry so I left
and ignored her pleas
to come back.
Found out later she
Killed herself.
I don't know if anything would have changed if I stayed.
But I wish I didn't get angry
And walk away."
Jun 2019 · 787
Standing in the garden
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
Standing in the garden, I admire the trees.
So strong, so tall, so carefree
Watching its leaves dance through the breeze
Zack Ripley Jun 2019
Lately, I've been afraid to sleep.
Every time I start to dream,
I'm greeted by a banshee scream.
I find myself running but don't seem to go anywhere.
It feels like I'm on a set of m.c. escher stairs.
Eventually, I end up stumbling and fall.
And when I look up, I see the scariest thing of all.
She showed me a vision of a wall.
Engraved in the stones were all of the words I had been dying to say.
I thought I lost them.
But there they were just a few feet away.
The banshee screamed again and the ground started to shake.
The wall started to crumble and I knew I needed to fight. There was too much at stake.
I closed my eyes and focused on trying to breathe.
Then I started to believe.
I believed in myself.
That I'd find the words again.
And just like that, when I woke up, I found them right where they should have been.
Bottom line, don't be afraid to dream. Because eventually, you will realize everything is not what it seems.
This poem was written after I saw a group post about making a poem where writer's block is something chasing you
May 2019 · 992
Memorial day
Zack Ripley May 2019
Today I stand beside you to honor those we love.
The ones who made it home, the ones still fighting, and the ones called to guide us from above.
Today, when they sing the national anthem, don't be surprised if you see me cry. It represents everything that makes me proud to be semper fi.
Today, it doesn't matter where you come from.
If you're here, you're American at the core.
Today, we celebrate everything we're fighting for.
Today, we'll visit our parents, daughters and sons
And tell them their war is over
"You can finally rest in peace. It's okay. Lay down your guns."
Whether you're a soldier, seal or marine, thank you for shielding us from all the things you see that should never be seen.
May 2019 · 355
I wonder
Zack Ripley May 2019
I wonder where you are
I wonder where you've been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again.
I wonder if you miss me
As much as I miss you.
I wonder if you dream of us
And all that we've been through
May 2019 · 551
Talking will set you free
Zack Ripley May 2019
You be my Bonnie, I'll be your Clyde.
Together, we'll take this life for one hell of a ride.
You be my Thelma, I'll be your Louise.
We'll get in the car and do whatever we **** well please.
Life on the run with the one you love may sound fun.
But no matter how far or how fast you go,
eventually you will always fly too close to the sun.
It may seem natural to flee
but it doesn't matter if you run from pain or fear.
Your mind is like an elephant.
It never forgets so your problems will always reappear.
What you choose to do is up to you.
But take it from me.
Talking about your pain will set you free
Zack Ripley May 2019
Years ago, I was a teen.
I was afraid to make friends
Because kids were mean.
So one day,
I decided to wander around mymind to see if there
Was any strength i could find
I thought if I could be strong
It wouldn't hurt when they
Called me fat and stupid.
That once they realized
It didn't affect me anymore
They would get bored
And move along.
I thought I knew where I
Needed to go but got lost.
I found myself somewhere
I didn't know.
Finally, i found a door
And when I rushed through,
All I saw was darkness.
Nothing more.
I tried to find my way back
But after awhile, I made myself so scared i got dizzy and fell. Then everything went black. When I came to,
I realized trying to ignore my feelings wouldn't make me strong. That it wasn't my job to prove they were wrong. There in the darkness, I realized I was
Strong all along.
When I believed in myself,
I got back my sight.
It felt like a lifetime
But I finally found my way
Out of the darkness and into the light
May 2019 · 492
Pride
Zack Ripley May 2019
There's this feeling inside.
It's something I've never experienced before.
But suddenly, I feel so alive.
I looked it up and it's called pride.
It all started the night you left.
I got a phone call from one of your friends.
When I hung up, I knew it was the beginning of the end.
You told me you loved me.
And when I realized you lied,
I crawled into bed as I screamed then cried.
After i let go of the anger and the pain, it was like the sun came out and dried up all the rain.
I found the strength to let you go.
It's ok if you feel bad but I want to thank you.
You taught me I'm stronger than I know
May 2019 · 771
your parents love you
Zack Ripley May 2019
Soon, it will be time for you to take the stage.
You'll be born and your parents life will never be the same. Someday soon, you'll start to grow and grow and grow.
And even though they'll be excited,
sometimes you might hear them say they wish time would slow. There will be many questions you want answers to.
"Are we there yet?" "Why is the sky blue?"
Sometimes, they may not be able to tell you.
Someday, you'll want to rebel;
do things they tell you not to just to make them scream and yell. Someday, you'll tell them you hate them after having a fight.
The next day, you'll tell them you love them
by the time they tuck you in at night.
But it's important you know no matter what they say,
no matter what you do, your parents will always love you.
Apr 2019 · 259
Keep writing
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
Keep writing about you
Keep writing for me
Keep writing about the future you want to see
Keep writing about your love
Keep writing about your pain
Keep writing about your dream of kissing someone in the rain.
Keep writing when you feel blue
Keep writing when you feel high
Keep writing about the name you'd give your own personal star in the sky.
Keep writing about the fun.
Keep writing about the night you had one too many beers
Keep writing to pass your wisdom on through the years.
Apr 2019 · 619
Because of you
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
You say I'm beautiful.
Well, baby if that's true,
I'm only beautiful because of you.
I wish you could understand how special you make me feel.
And I am proud to make it my purpose
to make you believe that your beauty is real.
Every day you give me a reason to live.
And now it's my turn to give you all I have to give.
I can't wait to thank you for all you've given me so far.
Because of you, I am proud of who we are.
Apr 2019 · 620
Bees for the win
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
The end is coming.
Can't you hear the bumblebees humming?
They know that soon, their Christmas will be here
and once again, the sky will be sunny and clear.
Lots of work has to be done but they're not afraid;
they know they're doing good for everyone.
As we embrace the summer breeze,
let us lie in the grass and thank our fellow bees.
Apr 2019 · 559
Just because
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
Just because it's called makeup
doesn't mean it has to make up who you are.
Just because someone is bullying you
doesn't mean they're not being bullied too.
Just because someone tells you you're stupid or ugly
doesn't mean it's true.
Now, it's true that just because you read something
it doesn't make it true.
But it's important to know that just because you're feeling blue,
it doesn't mean it's the end of happiness for you
Apr 2019 · 332
People of today
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
I don't know what to say when I look at the people of today. We acknowledge the world's gotten worse and still act like it's ok. The people of today fight in wars for reasons it seems they don't understand and ask that we support them while they invade a foreign land. Yes I know the people of yesterday did this as well when they killed innocent people in America before they burned in hell but what the people of today don't seem to understand is that the best way to heal is to take each other by the hand. It's been 18 years since that day in 2001. Now it's time to stop fighting so we can take care of everyone. People of today, please keep something in mind. The people of tomorrow are coming and we need to ensure they won't be blind. If we don't tell them how to learn from the past, the people of tomorrow might be the last. People of today, carpe diem. Seize the day. Come home so we can sing, heal and be gay.
This is my first poem I wrote. I wrote it in 2014.
Apr 2019 · 266
Time to move on
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
I take a look around this store
and can't help thinking...there's got to be something more.
Something better just waiting on the other side of the door.
I've made lots of memories through the years.
I even made some friends who taught me how to face my fears.
I may not know what lies ahead
but I'm leaving here with nothing left unsaid.
Now it's time to grow up. Time to move on.
Time to learn about the world and see a new dawn.
I feel so alive now that I'm finally free.
The only one who's going to stop me is me.
One thing I learned I want you to understand,
don't be afraid to fall. Someone will help you stand.
This is about me leaving my first job at a convenience store.
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
Look, I understand.
You don't want to open your eyes
to a world full of despair and lies.
Believe me. I was the same way.
Numb to the core acting like I don't care anymore.
Then I realized that's not true.
I care just as much as you.
I just had to realize we aren't defined
by the actions of a man named trump sitting on his golden ****. Now I know the world's not that scary.
It's extraordinary
because I see the fight in the people who keep the light alive.
Who want to do more than just survive.
Don't say ignore the haters and the doubters
because they are the ones who fuel our powers.
I hope when you read this, you don't cheer or hate.
Just resonate with what I'm trying to say.
The problems of the world won't go away tonight or tomorrow.
But if we band together, our strength will grow forever and ever. And maybe one day, we can rise up and say
let's not make America great again;
let's make the whole world great again.
This is the clean version of my first attempt at a rap lol.
Apr 2019 · 19.8k
We're afraid
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
We're afraid to live.
We're afraid to die.
We're afraid to try.
We're afraid of what happens if we don't try.
We're afraid to love.
We're afraid to commit.
We're afraid people think we're full of ****.
We're afraid of the truth.
We're afraid to lie.
We're afraid people will think we're weak if they see us cry.
We're afraid to feel.
We're afraid of fear.
But knowledge is power.
So now that you know what you fear,
what are you going to do about it right now? Right here?
Apr 2019 · 402
My daddy
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
Daddy says he's got to go. "No. You can't go with me today. I'll be back before you know it. But for now, I need you to stay." So I obey. As I look out the window pane, I know he'll be back but it still hurts to see him drive away. But he saved me. He gave me a home. He gave me love. So even though it hurts to see him drive away, I'll stay. Because he's my daddy and that's all there is to say
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
I want to tell a story but I don't know where to start.
See, I've kept the words hidden.
Locked away inside my heart.
Waiting for the day that you come find me.
Waiting for the day you rescue me from the darkness in my heart. Yeah, I know you'll set me free.
Free from all the doubts and lies I thought I had to tell myself.
So worried about the thoughts and words from everybody else.
It took me years to understand that life is not a race.
If you make your own path and stay with it,
someday you'll find your place.
I don't want to wait anymore.
I don't want to feel I've wasted my life
waiting for a fantasy that may never be real.
I want to prove I can be happy without you by my side
so I'll give it one last shot and tell the story of the time I tried
Apr 2019 · 459
In your honor
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
I breathe in and out trying to clear my head
of all the things i thought about but never actually said.
Even though I never got a chance to tell you
you meant the world to me, i know you knew it; it was plain to see. You took so much of me when you left, i still don't know what to do. But in your honor i will keep on pushing through.
I know someday you'll show me the way
but for now, you're in my heart and that's where you'll stay
Apr 2019 · 386
You make me smile
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
How can I show you I care about more than just your looks or the clothes that you wear?
How can I make you understand all I need to be happy is to hold your hand?
I know guys hurt you in the past and it doesn't mean much when we say we're different; that we're going to last.
So I won't say any of that. I'll just keep on loving you until you love me too.
Even if that never happens, there's one thing I need to make sure is clear. Every day I spend with you makes me smile ear to ear
Apr 2019 · 384
The truth about love
Zack Ripley Apr 2019
I told you once.
I told you twice.
If I have to tell you again, I'm going to stop being nice.
It doesn't matter if you're black or white.
Gay or straight.
The longer you live, the more you realize love doesn't discriminate. And when this truth becomes real,
so does the truth that you are worthy of love and your heart can heal
Mar 2019 · 437
I remember
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
So many things I've said.
So much i have left to say.
But I don't think I have enough time
to find the words that keep getting lost along the way.
Don't be afraid if I forget who I am today
because I still remember who we were yesterday.
I remember the nights by the fire with a bottle of wine.
I remember the the day you said you'd be mine.
I remember all the years we were young, wild, free.
I remember all the dreams we had
of how great our kids' future would be.
I remember the love. I remember the fights.
I remember the summers on the island
watching the fireworks light up the night.
Even if it doesn't show, there's one thing I need you to know.
I remember
i wrote this for my aunt who has struggled with my uncle's fight with alzheimers
Mar 2019 · 257
What do you see?
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
I look at you looking at me.
Please, tell me, what do you see?
Do you see a man with a gentle soul?
Or can you see straight through to my darkness
trying to take control?
You ask what I see when i look at you.
Do i see a loyal friend?
Or can i see how much you're dying inside?
Pretending to be strong
for those who need a friend to stand beside.
It's something we struggle with every day.
And it's a fight worth fighting every step of the way.
Something i want you to keep in mind though:
even if the darkness wins, and all we can see is black
darker than the darkest night, in the end, we will all see the light.
Mar 2019 · 517
Your power
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Where there is darkness there is light.
Where there is wrong there is right.
But where is it tonight?
Is it in the alley down the street?
Or is it right beneath our feet?
The truth is it's with you.
You can call upon this power
when you feel you are about to meet
your darkest and loneliest hours.
Whatever way it takes form, be it a friend movie or song,
if you let it, it will help you weather any storm.
Happiness can be achieved by all
when we find the courage to break down our walls.
It may make you vulnerable but that's okay.
Believe in your power and you will live to find another day.
Mar 2019 · 302
Ask (it's okay)
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
You tell yourself lies to get through the day
because you feel like no one will believe what you say.
No one understands how cruel they can be to you.
They tell you they love you and that's all it takes
to forgive them until the next time they break.
Deep in your heart you know that's not what love really is.
Take it from someone on the outside looking in.
They're starting to do damage to more than just your skin.
If you don't get out now I fear it's only a matter of time
before you become a victim of the most heinous crime.
It's okay to ask for help.
It's okay for any of us to.
It may not seem fair to tell people about our struggles.
It may not seem right.
But if you let someone help,
eventually they will help you find your light.
Mar 2019 · 426
The same
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Whether i had a million dollars or not even a dime to my name,
as long as im with you its all the same.
It doesn't matter if we lived in a mansion or a cardboard box.
As long as im with you its all the same.
On our wedding day, I cant promise I wont cry
as your father walks you down the aisle
and you leave his arm for mine.
If, down the road, you decide i cant make you happy anymore,
i will let you leave even though it will break me at the core.
Don't worry. I won't try to win you back.
You gave me a lifetime of happiness
and that's all I can ask.
I got through the days before I met you
so i know i can do it again
but if you ask me to rate my happiness it wont be a 10.
Life is the name of the game.
And once you find the one you love, it will never be the same
Mar 2019 · 269
The pursuit of happiness
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
It's a big mistake staring at the ticking clock waiting for an opportunity to knock. Nothing's going to fall at your door. So find something worth fighting for. When you realize success in life is not defined by your wealth, you can begin the journey toward the pursuit of happiness that will ultimately better your health. On this journey, there may be times when your heart may break and the pain may feel like it's too much to take. But if you can find the strength to carry on, you'll find the things you can do will be remembered long after you're gone
Mar 2019 · 258
Not a mistake
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Trying to get ahead
but I can't silence all these thoughts inside of my head.
Looking everywhere for a place to reset. Get a grip.
But my demons are screaming so loud it's like I'm on a bad trip. They say god never gives us more than we can take.
But I don't know how much longer I can hold my breath
before I find myself at the bottom of the lake.
I clutch my chest gasping for air,
and with my hand on my heart,
I pray for another day; a chance to prove I deserve a new start.
I close my eyes one last time and let myself go.
The demons leave my mind, body and soul.
I feel a rush come over and open my eyes
to realize it was all a dream; I'm still alive.
Now that I made it through, my mission is clear.
I know what to do. I now have a purpose:
use my experiences to help the broken and scarred find their faith, and help them believe loving, living, fighting is not a mistake.
Mar 2019 · 369
It's okay
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
It's okay to find shapes in the clouds or stand out in the crowd.
It's okay to ask why or if you feel you need to cry.
It's okay to say no.
It's okay if you don't know.
It's okay if your dreams change as you grow.
It's okay if you're wrong.
It's okay if you're right.
It's okay to ask for help
or if you're afraid of the night.
It's okay to sing.
It's okay to love who you love.
It's okay to believe heaven and your god above.
It's okay if you're lonely.
It's okay to admit you're not okay.
But remember. No matter what they say, it's okay
Mar 2019 · 390
I love you. Please stay
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Every day I worked that nine to five.
*** of coffee every morning made me feel alive.
But by the end of the day, after dinner with the wife and kid,
the demons I kept away came back.
So I had a date with jack until the world went black.
For years, i suffered in silence.
I eventually turned to drugs
to try and escape the violence gifted by the tyrants.
But no matter how many times
I pushed the trigger and pulled the thread,
every time I came down I couldn't help feel i was better off dead. Just when I was ready to quit, that's when I met her. That was it.
I finally found someone who cared.
We got married and our son was born.
I had never been more scared.
But we survived. We pushed through.
Life was perfect until the fight we had when he was two.
We said some things we didn't mean
and i walked away again never to be seen.
I'm telling you this because it's too late for me.
But it's not too late for you.
If you feel like you're ready to face the end,
please let me say what i needed someone to say.
I love you, please stay.
With this poem, I wanted a "voice from the dead" vibe. Like, what this guy who regretted what he did would say to someone who was considering ending their life. Also, as someone who has been suicidal and depressed, I wanted to talk about the fact that that level of depression never really goes away. Anything can trigger it. One thing I want to make clear though...I have never done drugs or even smoked.
Mar 2019 · 306
Don't give up on love
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Every day, you feel like you're dying inside
trying to ignore the pain gifted by a world that can be so unkind. You look in the mirror and try to like what you see.
But the ones who broke your heart
won't let you see how beautiful you are.
If you feel alone and scared to trust the ones that love you
because you feel like they won't understand,
it's easy to push love away
when you feel like you're the only one who knows your heart
and you're the only one who can.
But please, don't give up on love.
Don't give up on your heart.
Forget about the ones who couldn't see your beautiful soul right from the start.
Don't give up on your dreams
and someday you'll find
this crazy life can be so much better than it seems.
So don't give up on love.
Mar 2019 · 3.4k
Beautiful voices
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
It was a dark and stormy night
when an angel of death took flight.
She took to the skies and followed the thunder
to the one who would begin their eternal slumber.
The man who would soon receive such a fate
denied the love of someone great.
He told her she was ugly and didn't have time
to give his love to someone who wasn't divine.
Then what happened next
devastated her parents when they read her text.
He had no remorse when he was given the news.
So the angel of death made him pay his dues.
People take things for granted.
That's to be expected.
But professing love is not an act that deserves being disrespected.
If we took the time to think about all of the outcomes
of our choices, the world might not lose so many beautiful voices.
Mar 2019 · 269
Life is a boat on the sea
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Doc tells me im still alive. Don't know how but not complaining. Just trying to live in the here and now. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten my past. Think about life as a boat on the open sea. The mast, the pole in the center of the boat, is your past. It's the foundation and holds up the sail which is your future. You're the captain; the one who controls the here and now. Your loved ones are your power; the wind that pushes you forward. And the sea, that's the most important part
It represents the unknown. The things you can't control. There will be days when the thunder claps and your boat floods from Whitecaps. I know it's hard, but if you don't worry about the sea, what you can't control, and don't block out your past, you can give your all to someone and find happiness that lasts.
Mar 2019 · 743
Words
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Words can hurt. Words can heal. Words in a book can make you believe anything is real. Words can bring people together or tear them apart. It all depends on the kind of conversation you want to start.
Mar 2019 · 613
Doubts
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
They're swinging left and swinging right.
They hide in the shadows just out of sight.
But how can I fight what I cannot see?
How can I stop them from breaking every piece of me?
If you're out there and feeling all alone,
you don't have to fight all on your own.
Because the more you ask for help, the more you take control.
And when you take control and feel it in your soul,
the doubts will start to disappear.
Doubts! The bullies of the mind.
Doubts! Leave no trace of them behind.
Now that you know how to fight back, it's time to put it to the test. Take it one step, one day at a time, and we'll figure out the rest.
Mar 2019 · 813
I love being your mirror
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
"Mirror mirror on the wall" is what I hear you say.
Yes, I am the mirror on the wall.
What can I do for you today?
We've been together so long,
what can I show you that you haven't seen before?
I've shown you your beautiful, strong hair,
the cute freckles on your cheeks,
the light in your hazel eyes
and your lips that make men weak.
I've shown you with your makeup.
I've shown you your smile when you let your hair down.
It hurt to show you your tears when he broke your heart,
but I was so proud to show you in your wedding gown.
I know it may seem strange coming from a mirror,
but seeing gray in your hair, I can't help but stop and stare. Looking back, I think the best part of being a part of your show
is seeing how much confidence you've gained as you've grown. Before our time comes to an end,
there are two things i hope you know are true:
i love being your mirror, and I will only ever have eyes for you
this poem was inspired by 2 questions i asked: how does the mirror feel knowing that people are sometimes disappointed with how they look, and do people appreciate how honest a mirror is or do they resent that honesty?
Zack Ripley Mar 2019
Today, the sky was sunny and bright.
Like ice cream, cold but light.
Then, the sky turned gray
as the wind and snow welcomed the night.
I look up, down and around
and wish I didn't feel so helpless here on the ground.
I can't control the weather. This is true.
But there are things I can control and so can you.
We can control what we learn.
We control what we type.
We control whether we run or stand up and fight.
We control all these things and so much more.
But you never know what life has in store.
One more thing to think about.
If we could control everything,
life would be so much duller.
Maybe that's why my favorite thing I control
is how much of the world I see in color.

— The End —